2009 1/2 Oz Australia Silver Lunar Ox (Series II) - BU

Buyback price:  $28.84
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $29.25

Product ID: BST-001621D228

Specifications

Year 2009
Precious Metal Type Silver
Bullion Coin Type Lunar
Format Coin
Country of Origin Australia
Brand/Mint Perth Mint
Mint Mark P - Perth
Purity 0.999
Weight 0.5 oz
Thickness (mm) 1.88 mm
Diameter (mm) 35.95 mm
Inner Pack (Quantity) 20
Outer Pack (Quantity) 100
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 2009 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Ox (Series II)

The 2009 half-ounce Australian Silver Lunar Ox is a legal tender commemorative coin struck by The Perth Mint in .999 fine silver. Issued as part of the Australian Lunar Series II program, it carries a face value authorized by the Australian government and represents one of the most recognized annual release schedules in the global bullion coin market. The half-ounce format makes it a compact but substantive piece within a broader collection that spans multiple sizes and metals.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting the standard of quality that collectors and buyers expect from Perth Mint annual releases. Its position within the Series II framework distinguishes it from its predecessor, the original Lunar Series, through updated artistry and refined production standards that the mint introduced beginning with the 2008 year of issue.

History and Background

The Australian Lunar Series has its roots in the Perth Mint's long tradition of producing struck coins tied to the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Series II program launched in 2008 to mark a fresh twelve-year cycle, with each annual rel

Overview of the 2009 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Ox (Series II)

The 2009 half-ounce Australian Silver Lunar Ox is a legal tender commemorative coin struck by The Perth Mint in .999 fine silver. Issued as part of the Australian Lunar Series II program, it carries a face value authorized by the Australian government and represents one of the most recognized annual release schedules in the global bullion coin market. The half-ounce format makes it a compact but substantive piece within a broader collection that spans multiple sizes and metals.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting the standard of quality that collectors and buyers expect from Perth Mint annual releases. Its position within the Series II framework distinguishes it from its predecessor, the original Lunar Series, through updated artistry and refined production standards that the mint introduced beginning with the 2008 year of issue.

History and Background

The Australian Lunar Series has its roots in the Perth Mint's long tradition of producing struck coins tied to the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Series II program launched in 2008 to mark a fresh twelve-year cycle, with each annual release honoring a different zodiac animal. The Ox, representing the second sign in the cycle, was the subject of the 2009 release and carries cultural significance in Chinese tradition as a symbol of diligence, strength, and reliability.

The Perth Mint, established in 1899 as a branch of the British Royal Mint, is among the oldest and most respected sovereign minting facilities in the world. Its reputation for precise craftsmanship and consistent quality has made its Lunar series releases consistently sought after by collectors across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. The annual nature of the program, combined with mintage limits imposed on each size and year, has reinforced the collectibility of individual releases within the series.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2009 Lunar Ox features a detailed depiction of an ox rendered in high relief against a textured background. The design conveys both strength and calm, capturing the animal in a composed, grounded stance that reflects the traditional attributes associated with the Ox in Chinese culture. The coin's reverse also includes the year of issue, the weight and purity designation, and the Perth Mint's distinctive "P" mintmark.

The obverse bears the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, a design standard shared across Australian legal tender coinage. The portrait is accompanied by inscriptions denoting the face value and the issuing nation, Australia. The overall composition reflects the balanced, classical layout typical of Perth Mint sovereign coinage, with strong contrast between fine detail and clean field areas that gives the coin a visually polished presentation in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At half a troy ounce, this coin occupies a practical middle ground between the widely traded one-ounce format and smaller fractional sizes. It allows buyers to participate in the Lunar Ox release without committing to the full-ounce premium, which can be meaningful when acquiring multiple pieces or building a complete year-based collection across different sizes.

The half-ounce format also makes individual pieces more accessible in terms of per-unit cost, though buyers should be aware that fractional sizes typically carry a proportionally higher premium over spot than their one-ounce counterparts. This reflects the fixed costs of production distributed across a smaller silver content, a dynamic that applies consistently across fractional sovereign coins regardless of the issuing mint.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

As a product of The Perth Mint, the 2009 Silver Lunar Ox benefits from one of the most rigorous production standards in the sovereign minting industry. The mint's .999 fine silver specification is verified through precise alloying and quality control processes that have defined its output for over a century. Each coin is struck to exact weight and diameter tolerances, making authentication straightforward when physical specifications are compared against published standards.

We verify authenticity, weight, and purity for the products we handle, and our sourcing draws from reputable mints, distributors, and the established wholesale market. Our authorized dealer relationships with PCGS and NGC further support buyers who may wish to have individual coins professionally graded or encapsulated for collection purposes.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, commonly abbreviated as BU, indicates that this coin was struck for collector and investor use rather than general circulation. BU pieces exhibit no wear from handling or use, retaining the mint's original surface quality, luster, and detail. Minor contact marks from the minting process itself or from coin-to-coin contact within original packaging can occasionally be present and are consistent with BU designation rather than indicative of damage or post-mint handling.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve their condition in transit. The standard tube for Australian Lunar half-ounce coins typically holds 20 pieces, and orders at that quantity ship in a sealed tube. Larger orders are fulfilled in sealed outer packaging consistent with Perth Mint distribution standards. Regardless of quantity, packaging is selected to protect both the coin's surface and its presentation quality upon arrival.

Pricing and Market Factors

Like all silver bullion coins, the base price of the 2009 Lunar Ox moves in relation to the current spot price of silver. The premium above spot reflects the coin's fractional format, the Perth Mint's production quality, and the added demand generated by the Lunar series' collector appeal. Because this is a dated release from a twelve-year series now complete through the 2019 Pig, secondary market pricing can also be influenced by year-specific demand patterns and remaining availability.

Our pricing is structured to reflect real-time market conditions without unnecessary complexity. The bid and ask spread displayed on our product pages provides a transparent picture of both acquisition cost and current buyback value, which we believe is more informative than premium-over-spot figures alone when evaluating the full economics of a purchase.

Selling and Liquidity

Perth Mint Lunar series coins are broadly recognized across the global bullion and numismatic markets, which supports resale activity across a range of channels. The .999 fine silver content, combined with government-backed legal tender status and the Perth Mint's reputation, makes the underlying metal content straightforward to verify and transact. Collector demand for complete year sets and specific zodiac animals can create additional liquidity relative to generic silver rounds of comparable weight.

We operate a two-way market that supports both purchase and sale of products within our platform. Buyers can review current buyback pricing before making a purchase decision, which we view as an important part of evaluating any bullion acquisition rather than an afterthought reserved for the moment of sale.

Why Buy the 2009 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Ox?

This coin offers a combination of sovereign backing, established series recognition, and cultural significance that generic silver rounds do not replicate. The Ox is a specific year within a closed twelve-year series, meaning no additional 2009 Lunar Ox half-ounce coins will ever be produced. That finite supply, combined with ongoing collector interest in complete Lunar Series II sets, distinguishes it from open-ended bullion products that can be re-struck in unlimited quantities.

The Perth Mint's production quality ensures that the coin presents well both as a standalone piece and as part of a broader collection. For buyers who want silver with additional numismatic character, the Lunar Ox half-ounce delivers that without requiring the commitment of a graded or certified coin purchase.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have operated as a transparent precious metals marketplace since 2010, and our approach has consistently prioritized clear pricing, genuine product authentication, and long-term customer relationships over volume-driven sales tactics. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau, membership in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association, and authorized dealer status with both PCGS and NGC reflect the standards we hold ourselves to across every transaction.

Buying from us means having access to competitive pricing on both sides of the transaction, not just when acquiring metal. Our two-way market model is built around the principle that liquidity and exit options should be understood at the point of purchase. Combined with a wide selection of secure payment methods, responsive customer support, and reliable fulfillment, the experience is designed to be straightforward and trustworthy from start to finish.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members direct access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing, which is especially relevant when evaluating fractional silver coins where premium differentials between retail and wholesale pricing can be more pronounced. Rather than working from static retail price sheets, Pro members see how products like the Lunar Ox half-ounce are actually priced and traded at the wholesale level in real time, creating a more accurate baseline for purchase and sale decisions.

The platform also includes proprietary research tools that allow members to evaluate premiums, bid/ask spreads, historical pricing trends, and liquidity metrics across the broader catalog. For collectors building year-based sets or buyers tracking specific Lunar series releases, these tools provide objective, data-driven context that goes well beyond what standard product listings can offer. Portfolio valuation through Pro uses live wholesale bid pricing, giving members a realistic view of current liquidation value rather than estimated retail figures.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to make every transaction straightforward and secure. Buyers can complete purchases using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, as well as PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, or cryptocurrency via BitPay. This range of options is designed to accommodate different buyer preferences without creating friction at checkout.

Security is built into every step of the transaction process, and our fulfillment procedures are structured to ensure that products arrive in the condition described. Whether purchasing a single half-ounce coin or a larger quantity, the checkout and delivery experience is designed to be consistent, transparent, and dependable.

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